Integrated Information Systems

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the theoretical application of integrated information systems in various organizations around the world. As businesses expand from small and medium sized firm to large cross-border enterprises, the operations become more complex.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Integrated Information Systems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Large organizations often encounter tough challenges, especially when it comes to managing the complexity of operations involving many stakeholders and diverse units. The effective management and coordination of the operations of the mega enterprises requires a smooth flow of reliable information. Traditionally, firms utilize orthodox systems that do not provide timely and inclusive information. This paper seeks to investigate and reinforce the significance of employing Integrated Information Systems (IIS) to help managers run the large ente rprises better from a central point. The essay reveals that the integrated information systems include the automation software platforms that have been developed to help managers control organizational data with a view of establishing a perfect position to supervise each unit. Introduction Information is one of the most valuable resources of a firm around which business processes unfold. The overall performance of a firm is contingent on its ability to manage the flow of information between its constituent elements. Managerial decisions largely depend on the carefully analyzed information including on-going projects, distribution, demand forecasting, customer communication, production, stock levels, and supplier information among many other constituents of a business firm. In the advent of rapid globalization, technological dynamics, and inter-organizational dependency that shape the modern-day business, the need for appropriate information management systems is inevitable to handle the plethora of complex operations. The term ‘digital firm’ has gained popularity to define this emerging trend in contemporary business. In the last one decade, a new class of integrated software applications has emerged with a view of enabling the digital firm to manage the complexity of the information involved effectively. This paper critically analyzes the integrated information systems that can help the digital firm manage flow of information efficiently to promote the smooth flow of the organizational processes and profitability.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Review Over the past decade, rapid changes in technology that have greatly affected the way modern business is conducted have been witnessed. There has been notable advancement in technology, especially in the facilitation of information flow and sharing between the different stakeholders of the modern business firms (Laudon Laudon, 2013). The impact of digitization on business can be exemplified by looking at the current functionality of the stakeholders. The utilization of integrated information systems that have been catapulted through digitization, the modern firm now has an unlimited power of information sharing and dissemination across its stakeholders regardless of the complexity and distance involved. For instance, the digitization technology has reshaped various business models by lowering the barriers to the entry and expansion of markets by enterprises across the globe. For instance, it is possible for an organization to engage over 500 million Skype users using the Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology today (Alaa Fitzgerald, 2013). This business communication model has fundamentally disrupted the traditional business strategies. As a result, many companies have opted to follow suit in the fear of missing the competitive advantage brought abou t the technology. Currently, firms rely heavily on the social media for the creation of brands, launching of products, and communication with customers among many other service provisions surrounding the marketing activities. Consumers also use the internet to search information regarding products that they can even be bought offline. They compare products and prices besides involving other online groups in discussions and views on particular brands (Laudon Laudon, 2013). It is the role of the digital firm to act in response to this emerging consumer behavior by adopting the appropriate integrated information systems to capture the changing customer needs. The strategy can help the firms gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Today, the web plays a key role in the retail channel that has ultimately disrupted traditional business practice. Digitization has led to the emergence of new winners and losers.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Integrated I nformation Systems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Firms such as the Amazon Inc., whose annual sales totaled US$3.2 Billion in 2001, skyrocketed to approximately US$49 billion in 2011. The firm emerged as a winner in its industry while the losers including the brick-and-mortar retailers and Borders lost their market shares. This situation led to the dissolution of such firms. The primary role of information is to merge all business operations and functions for proving the base for managerial decisions. The goal of managing information is to achieve the intended enterprise objectives including improving the firm’s performance and sustaining growth. Some of the benefits of the effective information systems include better understanding of the business functions, appropriate problem analysis, and value-added communication among the different constituents of an enterprise. Other advantages include the formulation of prompt and info rmed decisions for better firm control. The performance of businesses is largely based on the implemented information systems. Efficient information systems are compared to a library system that provides useful data to all the management levels in the firm. The library plays a critical role in the collection, classification, and archiving of data that the whole community relies on to retrieve the information required guiding various decisions. The decisions on different tasks bring about an improved overall performance of the firm when they are implemented appropriately (Laudon Laudon, 2013). Enterprises need efficient and properly integrated information systems to evade losing the ground in the rapidly changing business environment. The information provides enterprises with numerous competencies including the realization of low-cost production and excellent customer services. The Disconnect of the Traditional Information Systems The traditional business models face the problem of non-conformity to the changing business environment. Traditional firms utilize the orthodox information management systems and tools that do not match the contemporary business demands. A substantial amount of literature puts forward numerous problems associated with the traditional information systems.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Firstly, they adopt a top-down decision-making process where senior managers formulate orders for the less informed subordinates to implement (Laudon Laudon, 2013). The lack of proper coordination of information due to the burdening hierarchical management system, the firms fail to notice the changes in the organization. Secondly, they lack information systems to link the departments. This disconnection leads to failed functions, duplication of reports, and delayed communication, a situation that affects the overall performance of the enterprise. In most organizations, the separate departments including the accounting, human resources (HR), marketing, sales, and production had independent information systems (Laudon Laudon, 2013). In the orthodox management plan, strategic decision-making was challenging since the acquisition of information for analysis involved long processes. Data regarding the various departments was availed in the form of separate files with different versions that the general manager had to spend several days to analyze before making decisions. With each department having separate computer programs to operate, it implied that there were multiple files created. In a five or ten-year span, the size of files created can be enormous, giving the management the burden of handling and loss of time. These problems can be a source of demotivation, fatigue, and increased turnover rates. Firms that utilize the traditional information handling methods are prone to failure owing to the lack of coordination and duplication of roles that result in resource wastage and untapped opportunities (Mabry, Chengho, Bigler, 2014). The planning process conducted without up-to-date information results in recurring failure in the enterprise. Some researchers argue that planning cycles in the traditional firms can be too long, and do not match the pace of the changing business environment. Such problems make the management of firms hard because they rely on the t raditional methods concentrating on past scenarios. The traditional data handling systems are also faced with the problem of data redundancy and inconsistency (Laudon Laudon, 2013). Such instances and adverse trends can be resolved using the modern integrated information systems that communicate between the internal and external environments of the enterprise. The modern management practice also boosts the coordination of the operations with a view of establishing a central information system to oversee each unit. Organizing the Information Systems in a Digital Firm Many modern firms have acknowledged the role of information as an ingredient of the organizational communication function. The IT department in most companies manages the organization of information (Mabry et al., 2014). Its governance entails the policies and strategies that govern the utilization of technology to handle the company information. It guides the decision-making processes (Laudon Laudon, 2013). Furthermor e, it draws the accountability framework to ensure that the appropriate technology is executed to facilitate the smooth flow of information in the organization. The systems form a part of a series of value-adding activities for acquisition, transformation, and distribution of information that can be utilized by the managers to improve decision-making. Organizations face challenges that stem from both the internal and external environments. Information systems are designed to offer reliable solutions to such organizational challenges (Mabry et al., 2014). The information systems transform data into meaningful knowledge to guide decision-making with an aim of improving the performance of the enterprise. According to Mabry et al. (2014), the realization of the organization’s strategic goals is derailed in situations where they fail to adopt management information systems. The systems help the organization improve the customer relations, functional superiority, value-added decisi ons, and market effectiveness among others. Technically, the systems help in the collection of data, storage, and timely dissemination of information from the external and internal environments of the firm with a goal of supporting the organizational functions (Balfe, Sharples, Wilson, 2015). These operations can be classified as input, processing, and output. They play a central role in the provision of solutions to problems facing the business initiatives of the enterprises. Organizing the information systems involves the adoption of viable business models, shaping a culture that supports it, and generating the political will through the appropriate leadership models to convert the efforts into a prosperous organization. To obtain a meaningful value of the information systems, organizations ought to show the support for the technology investment, suitable complementary investments, and proactive management styles. The complementary investments include the relevant corporate cultu re, employee behavior, new business models and processes, high technology standards, favorable regulation and legislation, and the will to maintain an up-to-date information system. Some scenarios involve the fortification of the managerial and organizational structure, especially during the introduction of new technology (Bafe et al., 2015). Theoretical Application of the Integrated Information Systems The digital firm embraces integrated information systems that promote an accurate handling of information to ensure that the different departments in an enterprise receive and share timely information from a central point (Durugbo Riedel, 2013). To achieve this transformation, numerous technological developments have been tested and proven efficient in the management of information. They mostly revolve around the utilization of computer software as discussed extensively in this section. Enterprise Resource Planning One of the most proactive and proven IIS software is the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This software helps business firms integrate a range of business functions and processes with a view of establishing a central system for managing the overall business errands (Durugbo Riedel, 2013). This software has been adopted mainly by not only the multinationals but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This move has enabled them cut the unnecessary operational costs. The ERP concept can be discussed from different viewpoints. At the outset, it is a marketed product sold as computer application software. Secondly, the ERP can be seen as a development goal mapping all enterprise data and processes into a comprehensive and integral structure. Thirdly, it can be viewed as a key component of an infrastructure that provides apt business solutions (Uà §aktà ¼rk Villard, 2013). The ERP system is designed to promote an aggressive and efficient business strategy with a view of enabling firms to manage their resources including the materials , workforce, suppliers, customers, and finance. It provides a wholesome and integrated solution for the enterprise’s information processing needs. The ERP also provides the standardization of the business processes across the firm. It is known for its business revolutionizing capabilities including the automation and integration of the firm’s processes, sharing of common data and practices across the entire business, and providing access to information in a real-time environment. The ERP can improve the business processes while cutting the perceived operational costs. The two significant frontiers for the software include the supply chain management and e-commerce (Drnevich Croson, 2013). The capabilities and effectiveness of the ERP have been tested through its widespread application in the supply chain management whereby it is linked with other business functions. Firms can slash the cycle times and reduce the inventory with the help of the ERP. Despite its widely c ited implementation costs, the ERP has evaded expensive errors that enterprises make with the traditional handling processes. A substantial amount literature also provides the evidence-based success factors for the ERP in spite of its expensive installation costs. The ERP concept is represented in figure 1.0 showing how the information from the different constituents of an enterprise can be controlled from a central point. Figure 1.0 The ERP systems concept The successful implementation and functionality of the ERP system is contingent on its alignment with the organizational processes and correspondence to the enterprise culture, strategy, and organizational structure (Uà §aktà ¼rk Villard, 2013). The system seeks to improve both the fundamental and front-end functions of the enterprise simultaneously. Various reports indicate that the ERP has gained substantial market popularity due to its capability to include additional business functions such as the Internet-based transacti ons and communications. The users are reaping the benefits of managing the information from a system that permits more processes to be included in addition to the ones configured initially. Evidence-Based Application of the ERP System as an Integrated Information Tool Numerous companies that are among the leading firms worldwide have applied the ERP system. The main enterprise software vendors include the Oracle, SAP, and SSA Global. Currently, there are versions of the ERP software packages designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) obtainable via the webs offered by various service providers (Durugbo Riedel, 2013). These systems can communicate with the external business elements including the customers, suppliers, and other organizations alongside the initial design for the internal operations of the firm. The ERP framework provides value to the firms by increasing the operational efficiency. It also integrates firm’s information into the system thereby underp inning the formulation of decisions that are more informed. Large companies whose operations are highly complex involving long supply chain, distant units, and numerous management departments have attested the effectiveness of the ERP (Laudon Laudon, 2013). The system helps the companies by providing them with standardized data that is used by all the stakeholders regardless of their different locations. For instance, the implementation of the SAP enterprise software enabled the Coca-Cola Company to standardize and coordinate its business processes in over 200 countries around the globe. Before the adoption of the SAP enterprise software, the company was having trouble leveraging its global business processes. The implementation of the ERP system led to an increased worldwide buying power of the company’s products and response to the rapid market changes (Durugbo Riedel, 2013). The ERP systems help firms respond timely to requests and orders from the customers since the sof tware facilitates the integration of information on the incoming orders, manufacturing processes, and delivery of data. In this way, the firm manufactures in response to the orders made by the customers (Drnevich Croson, 2013). In addition, this integration enables the procurement process to determine the amount of the raw materials to be acquired in response to the manufacturing needs of refilling the actual orders (Drnevich Croson, 2013). Similarly, the Alcoa Company made a groundbreaking reduction of the transaction costs after implementing the Oracle enterprise software. The software also resulted in the decrease of the redundant processes and systems. Prior to the implementation of the ERP, the company took exceedingly long before receiving the payments for delivered products due to the absence of a system to process the receipts (Balfe et al., 2015). Following the successful acquisition and implementation of the Oracle ERP system, the Alcoa Company accounts payable transacti on processing saw an 89% sharp drop. The Impact of Integrated Information System on Supply Chain Management The effectiveness of the ERP system has been proved to have significant effects on the supply chain management, especially in the mega companies where the operations can get more complex (Uà §aktà ¼rk Villard, 2013). The supply chain of any business is made up of various components that include the business processes, resource goods, production means, and distribution networks. It involves many players such as the firm, suppliers, distribution channels, and customers (Blessing Mavengere, 2014). These constituents are involved in the core functions of the business that are associated with the financial transactions. Managing the functions in a multinational organization can be tricky (Balfe et al., 2015). At this stage, the integrated information systems such as the ERP come into play. A system is needed to control the procurement of raw materials, transform them into interm ediate and finished commodities, and coordinate the distribution of the finished products to the customers. The management needs to have access to the information about each unit in the complex supply chain to support the formulation of better decisions for the firm. This acquaintance will also help in the evaluation of the economic position of the activities at any point in time. Inefficiencies in the supply chain management can occur due to the absence of an appropriately integrated system that can avail the information on each of the complex units involved. Major inefficiencies observed in the supply chain include component shortages, underutilized plant capacity, deficient or surplus finished products inventory, exorbitant transport costs, delayed deliveries, and little customer information coordination among other crucial errors. Instances such as the manufacturers keeping excessive inventory due to the lacking information about shipping are common. As a result, the stock level increases. This situation escalates the stocking costs. The enterprise system software helps evade a scenario that can waste up to 25% of the operational costs of the firm. The system enables the manufacturer gain access to information on the exact number of units of a particular product that the customers require and exact time of production and delivery. The ERP has been proven to promote the just-in-time strategy for manufacturers whereby the production perfectly corresponds to the customer needs and delivery time (Blessing Mavengere, 2014). Information systems facilitate the supply chain management in many ways. At the outset, it helps firms decide when and what to produce, store, and distribute (Blessing Mavengere, 2014). In addition, it promoted rapid communication and tracking of order requests from the clients and checking inventory levels and availability. The ERP systems have contributed to reducing costs of inventory, transportation, and warehousing. It facilitates the t racking of shipment for raw materials from the suppliers. Besides, it monitors the distribution of finished products to the retail outlets and customers in different regions and countries around the globe, particularly for the global business firms. The integrated information systems help manufacturers plan production activities by scheduling the production activities in line with the customer demands (Drnevich Croson, 2013). Moreover, the systems provide a rapid communication framework for product design changes in response to the customer tastes and shifting market forces. The supply chain system is designed to help firms plan and execute manufacturing procedures successfully. Furthermore, they underpin the modeling of the supply chain, creation of demand projections, and coordination of supplies and manufacturing decisions. On the other hand, the supply execution systems help firms manage the flow of products from the manufacturing and distribution channels to the right destinat ions. The information systems also assist in the tracking of the physical conditions of products, management of materials, warehousing, and transportation operations. Besides, they confirm the financial information associated with the above operations. The major software vendors for supply chain management include the Manugistics and i2 Technologies. In addition, the enterprise software vendors including the SAP and Oracle-PeopleSoft provide various supply chain management modules. A perfect example of the utilization of the supply chain systems is demonstrated by the Dubai Ports (DP) World, a leading terminal operator in the world. It adopts a customer-centric approach that supports its supply chains in more than 50 terminals located in over 40 countries globally. The system helps the DP World provide excellent innovative services in the handling of bulk, container, and terminal cargos. The firm gives customers priority by heavily investing in tech-savvy resources to provide qualit y services. The DP World helps shippers around the globe handle the complex supply chains involving container handling. Through the adoption of the ERP systems, the DP World has managed to ease congestion challenges rampant in the container terminals (Drnevich Croson, 2013). It utilizes numerous information technology-based solutions that have improved the terminal capacity use significantly. The automated system conducts functions such as the recording, analysis, authentication, reporting, and clearance of the shipment using the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) interface. The information system also offers an opportunity for both traders and consumers to manage orders and deliveries online. The introduction of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has led to various advantages. At the outset, the management of the distribution logistics has been improved owing to the faster clearance of the shipment. This situation has significantly increased the flow of traffic th ereby reducing congestion at the facility. The DP World customers can boast of the easier cargo clearance and transportation to the offshore destinations. This strategy was achieved through the upgraded truck management that saw the prevention of queues in the terminals thereby reducing the number of trucks on the public roads. Application of Integrated Information Systems in Customer Relationship Management Marketing researchers have more often contended that establishing a knowledge base about a firm’s customers is the most competitive phenomenon in the modern-day business environment. The traditional assumption of gaining a competitive edge by moving the highest quantity of products or demonstrating the best innovation has been recently challenged by the notion of understanding customer analysis. A sustainable firm’s growth and profitability do not only depend on constant innovation but also the proper understanding of the consumer dynamics. This situation can be ac hieved by the utilization of the best information systems in the customer relationship management (CRM) strategy (Laudon Laudon, 2013). Developing a system that enables the realization of the consumer needs and their consumption behaviors among others is the focus of the CRM. For large companies with diverse market niches, it is not an easy task to know the consumers closely. This situation creates a need to come up with the best strategic information systems to facilitate an accurate synthesis of all the information incoming from different channels including telephone, websites, social media, and face-to-face communication. The CRM seeks to gather and integrate, consolidate, analyze, and redistribute consumer data to various contact points that include communication through e-mails, telephone, websites, wireless devices, and/or retail sites. Advanced CRM packages have modules for partner relationship management (PRM) and employee relationship management (ERM). The PRM software hel ps promote the association between the firm and its partners including suppliers, shareholders, and sponsors. On the other hand, the ERM software deals with the workforce issues such as employee performance, formulation of goals, compensation, appraisals, recruitment, and training among others. Software such as the Sales Force Automation (SFA) utilized in the CRM systems help the sales workforce to speed up the production processes by directing more efforts towards the most valuable and profitable customers. The SFA generates information on the sales prospects, contact, and configuration of the best candidates for substantial prospective purchases. It communicates this information to the sales personnel to underpin the formulation of better decisions. The CRM systems generate useful information including the amount of revenue made against the costs incurred in servicing the customer (Laudon Laudon, 2013). This analytical CRM function is geared towards establishing the customer life time value (CLTV) that portrays the long-term firm-consumer relationship. Conclusion This paper stresses the role of integrating information into a firm. It is evident that poor handling of information can result in a massive company failure due to the lack of appropriate coordination of the different operational units. The paper has presented how the integrated information systems can be utilized to manage the digital firm to eradicate a plethora of problems that accrue due to the continued use of the orthodox systems. The size of information involved escalates as businesses become more complex, especially with the effect of globalization where firms engage in cross-border transactions. As a result, the firms face a tough challenge of ensuring that the crucial information is disseminated timely to the complex units. In response to this complexity, various innovative software-based technologies have been developed to ease the challenge. Reference List Alaa, G., Fitzgerald, G. (2013 ). Re-conceptualizing Agile Information Systems Development using Complex Adaptive Systems Theory. Emergence: Complexity Organization, 15(3), 1-23. Balfe, N., Sharples, S., Wilson, J. (2015). Impact of automation: Measurement of performance, workload, and behavior in a complex control environment. Applied Ergonomics, 47(1), 52-64. Blessing Mavengere, Nicholas. (2014). Role of Information Systems for Strategic Agility in Supply Chain Setting: Telecommunication Industry Study. Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation, 17(1), 100-112. Drnevich, P., Croson, D. (2013). Information technology and business-level strategy: toward an integrated theoretical perspective. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 483-509. Durugbo, C., Riedel, J. (2013). Readiness assessment of collaborative networked organizations for integrated product and service delivery. International Journal of Production Research, 51(2), 598-613. Laudon, K., Laudon, J. (2013). Management of Integrated Information Systems: Ma naging the digital firm. New Jersey, NJ: Prentice Hall. Mabry, S., Chengho, H., Bigler, W. (2014). Quantifying the value of the service-oriented approach to business information systems. Business Studies Journal, 6(1), 1-22. Uà §aktà ¼rk, A., Villard, M. (2013). The Effects of Management Information and ERP Systems on Strategic Knowledge Management and Decision-making. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 99(1), 1035-1043. This research paper on Integrated Information Systems was written and submitted by user Amber K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Combination of Noir Style and Existentialist Motif The Matrix essays

Combination of Noir Style and Existentialist Motif The Matrix essays The Matrix (1999) is an extension of the existentialist motifs of the mid 20th Century set in the 23rd, for its obvious influences from the American Noir Style. This is apparent when looking at the five points of this existentialism. First, Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves), a.k.a. Neo, is portrayed from the beginning of the film as a normal Joe who holds the potential of a world savior, yet without the narcissism. He does not have X-ray vision or the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but rather, he is a lowly computer programmer for a respectable computer company. He does not appear important to anyone else in the film at first, and it is because of his lifestyle. Mister Anderson is immersed in the world of computers. As a result, he is lonely and alienated from the world or reality. This feeling is also reflected in the high, swooping camera angle found in the film, which is characteristically Noir. But what is reality? The truth? Neo makes the conscious choice to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. One finds out later in the film that at the point of making such a choice, he was nothing... or nothing more than an oversized Energizer; but upon choosing the truth he is also trying to free his mind from the prison he cannot taste or touch or see. Neo is doomed to fail, as no one has come before him to succeed in the freeing of his own mind. As a result, he is under a sentence of death; the system is set up against him; the Matrix has him... he struggles with the choice between life and death, as he must let his instructor, Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne), die or sacrifice himself to save him. There is only one element holding his life in tact: Fate... At first, Mister Anderson does not like the idea of fate, as he cannot stand the idea of not being able to control his own destiny. Throughout the entire film, as Mister Anderson...

Andromache’s Lament as an important element of the “Iliad”

Andromache’s Lament as an important element of the â€Å"Iliad† Andromache, one of the few female characters in the Iliad, is part of perhaps one of the tenderest sections of Iliad. Along with Helen, she is the only other mortal woman to have any substantial speaking lines in the entire epic. Unlike women in general in the Iliad, Andromaches role goes beyond being just another spoil of the war. Homer treats her as a counterpart to Hektor(she is, in a sense, his equal), giving her actions and words a greater significance. Andromaches lament (Book 22, lines 437-515) is particularly powerful because Homer effectively uses literary techniques here that bring out audience empathy. In the Iliad, Andromaches lament is a poignant, intense passage that serves as a characterization of Andromache, providing the reader with a further understanding of Hektor, Trojan life, and the impact of the Trojan War. Andromaches lament emphasizes the impact of the Trojan War on life at home and on the family. The Iliad focuses on Achilleus, Hektor, and other heroes in a war-like atmosphere; Andromache provides a contrast to this setting. Through their behavior, the male characters embody war, aggression, and honor, while Andromache becomes the representative for peace, love, and family. Andromaches lament acutely portrays the sense of despair, loss, and sadness that comes with the war. Here, Homers use of an emotive tone serves to highlight the sense of tragedy in a way that the audience could relate to. That is, Homer chooses to use diction evocative of the helplessness of a child, such as boy, baby, child, cheeks, tug, tiny, and soft bed. Andromache does not center her speech on only Hektors death or the immediate events of the war. Instead, she concentrates much of the passage on her dismal predictions about her son, Astyanaxs, life without a father. By focusing on Astyanax, Homer reminds the audience of the bigger picture of the Trojan War and the impact of war on all people, not just the impact on the protagonists of the story. Andromaches speech sheds light not only on the effects of war, but also on the relationship between Andromache and Hektor. The love between Andromache and Hektor is very powerful, and the depth of their bond gives the reader a sense of strength and integrity in Andromache and Hector. Because of the way Homer portrays Andromaches relationship with Hektor, Andromaches reaction to Hektors death generates audience empathy. Andromaches rampart scene with Hektor in book 6 provides the audience with prior knowledge about Hektor and Andromaches relationship. Consequently, Andromaches lament becomes all the more powerful and touching. We see these emotions via the imagery used to portray Andromache running out of the house like a raving woman with pulsing heart (Book 22, line460-461). When Andromache learns of Hektors death, she too dies: Homer uses the phrase the darkness of night misted over the eyes of Andromache (Book 22, line 466), which parallels the phrase used to describe death throug hout Iliad, the dark mist gathered around him (Book 20, line 417). In addition, the use of a morbid and rancid tone illustrates the great loss of Hektor. Andromache talks of writhing worms and dogs that will feed on Hektors naked corpse (Book 22, line 509-510); all of which convey a miserable picture of Hektors plight. As much as Andromache is a reflection of Hektor, she is also a representation of Troy itself. With the loss of Hektor, Andromaches world shatters. This shattering in turn foreshadows Troys downfall. [she]threw from her head the shining gear that ordered her headdress, the diadem and the cap(Book 22, line 468-470) The veil in ancient Greece is a symbol of husband and wife. By ripping off the veil, Andromache symbolically throws away her marriage with Hektor. With this comes the loss of her chastity, forewarning the raping and pillaging of both Troy and its women. In addition, Andromaches sons name is Astyanax, which means lord of the city. If Astyanax is a representation of Troy, then others will take his [Troys] lands (Book 22, line 489), and that he [Troy] will bow his head before every man (Book 22, line 491). Andromache represents all of the aforementioned because she, like Helen, is an observer in the epic. Even her location within the text, on the wall (Book 22, line 463) when she sees that Hektor is dead, shows this view from the outside. In the beginning of the passage, Andromache has not watched the duel like everyone else. Instead, she is weaving a web (Book 22, line 440). Thrice she gives speeches in the Iliad, all of which serve as insight into the mindset of the collective people during the time, as opposed to just what the main characters are thinking. Thus, Andromaches lament is one of the key passages of the Iliad that provides insight into life within the Trojan War.

Organizational Culture and Structure Research Paper

Organizational Culture and Structure - Research Paper Example It had the good foresight that GSM will be replaced by a new technology, and so it was not afraid to take the risk. Its advances in technology were brought by this excellent foresight. T-mobile boats of its â€Å"latest technologies and modern multimedia services† faring well with its fiercest competitors such as Vodafone. â€Å"In line the Companys vision of ‘Connected life and work’, the mobilization of personal social networking is at the heart of T-Mobiles corporate activities† (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). An example of this is their mobile internet offering, the web’n’walk which enables customer to have a mobile access to the internet. Taking advantage of its wide product portfolio, Deutsche Telekom Group has increasingly its integrated product portfolio, â€Å"which enables standardized access to personal data like music, videos and addresses across all terminal equipment and which also provides for ever more integrated services on an incr easing number of mobile devices† (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). In an industry where technology spells success, T-Mobile’s key culture is its fast, timely and courageous innovation. Taking advantage of its wide business portfolio, Deutsche Telekom Group has never stopped to amaze its customers with innovative and valuable IT solutions. â€Å"This becomes even clearer with mobile web surfing: T-Mobile was the first provider in Europe to give its customers open access to the Internet and thus offer them unrestricted access to the web. The range of news, films, music and infotainment available to customers is constantly growing† (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). Currently, Deutsche Telekom is â€Å"is systematically gearing its business to broadband services and mobile Internet† as this is the need of the hour (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). This is in congruent to their vision of connected life and work. Recently, it has adapted its â€Å"Focus, fix and grow† strategy which is

Textual Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Textual Analysis - Essay Example The first of these texts which will be analyzed is that of Dorothea Lasky’s â€Å"Black Life†. This particular poem, though brief, expounds a very nuanced and full-bodied meaning of just what seeming meaninglessness greets the newborn child upon entering life. Says Lasky, â€Å"You are born and it is to a black life/Full of abuse and strange things†¦You die and it is from a black life/That you die from/You leave this one and go into the next/Where nothingness surrounds and evaporates/With the ease of something/That has done this sort of thing before† (Lasky 1). By detailing the somewhat meaningless yet methodical pressures that move all humanity through its brief experience on earth, the author is able to detail some sense and methodology to what has otherwise been labeled as a form of madness and ultimate depression with regards to the transient nature of life and its ultimate meaning. Although such a definition is no more comforting than any other definiti on of life and the ultimate depression it espouses, the author goes on to define some rationality to the way in which this â€Å"black life† leaves the earth with little to no fanfare or care on the part of those around it. Says Lasky, â€Å"I leave and I am black life/I leave you cause you didn’t need me after all/And I want to/Be what you made me to be/But you never really made me/This life made me/This thing that I am† (Lasky 1). In admitting that the world is perhaps better off without this blight of a depressed human being, the author is able to underscore the meaninglessness that life entails as the world cares not whether this depressed person is gone. Moreover, the ultimate cause of the depression is related not to be something biological, not something that has been recognized due to the singular unfairness of life; rather, it is born out of the fact that they â€Å"never really

Somatic Gene Therapy Essay -- Genetics Science Ethics Essays

Somatic Gene Therapy To a parent, the thought of their child having a severe, yet rare genetic disease brings guilt, sadness, and responsibility to an aching heart. Parents who see their child pass through life with the weight of a terminal illness often wish in their hearts that the curse had been placed upon them rather than their child. To some, the thought of the old clichà © "no parent ought to see their child die" seems to swim endlessly in their mind. The hope for a cure fills the hearts of many waiting on the edge of their seats in hopes for a better quality of life for themselves, loved ones, and human kind. The news of success with a novel technology in putting to rest these diseases brings a purpose in life. Such is the case with Ashanti DeSilva, a four-year-old girl diagnosed with severe combined immune deficiency (Human Gene Therapy). Ashanti hardly lived what would be call a normal life, confined to her sterile home where she battled common childhood diseases, like the cold, with massive amounts of antibiotics. She lived a life of separation, avoiding contact with the public and even those she loved. With a compromised immune system due to a missing gene in her genome, she was vulnerable to every passing germ. On September 14, 1990, Ashanti received a life changing treatment as the first approved gene therapy. In the procedure the researchers removed white blood cells from Ashanti, which were then grown in a lab. These cells were then spliced with the missing gene and infused back into Ashanti. Although this is a treatment and not a cure, Ashanti can now live a life she and her parents dreamed of. She can now attend school and play with friends and family without fear of contact, thereby living a more... ...lt;http://www.wiley.co.uk/genmed/clinical/> Human Gene Therapy (2000). National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/scopenotes/sn24htm>. Questions and Answers About Gene Therapy (1993). National Cancer Institute. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov/clinpdq/therapy/Questions_and_Answers_About_Gene_Therapy.htm>. Rubanyi, G. (2001). The Future of Human Gene Therapy. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 22,3, pp. 113-142. Walters, LeRoy, and Julie Gage Palmer. Ethics of Human Gene Therapy. Oxford University Press, New York. 1997. Williams, D. (2003). Gene Therapy-New Challenges Ahead. Science. 302, 5644, pp. 400. Wilson, J. (1997) What Is Gene Therapy? The Institute for Human Gene Therapy. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.med.upenn.edu/ihgt/info/whatisgt.html>.

Bad corporate governance Essay

Approach Governance Governing is a process of implementing decisions, rules and regulations in a group of people. Its concept has been widely used by companies to make their workers comply a set of agreed actions that were done and ordered by the management. The management’s ways of doing rules and policies has a big effect in a company’s performance as a whole. As decision making is vital to a company, the management should be equipped with the knowledge of how they are going to make their decisions every day. Study of Good and Bad Governance Good Governance Good governance will surely give benefits to the company, employees, customers and suppliers. Its implemented decisions had considered the characteristics of Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Orientation, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency and Accountability that if complied well, it will bring good feedbacks and result to the company. Bad Governance Mismanagement has always been a problem in all companies which is a start of bad governance. Bad governance emerges when conflict rises among people who are involved in the company. It includes conflict of interest, political issues among members of the company, social problems, discrimination, lack of participation and more. When employees or the people concerned to the company starts to ask questions about the decision of the company’s management, then there is an unclear part in that certain decisions being implemented that employees do not understand or agreed. Analysis All companies have their different mission and vision as their instrument and inspiration to be the best that they can to survive in a very competitive market. In this paper, we will examine the different possible causes why the UK Industrial Company and MISnet Inc. failed. Sample Study: The UK Industrial Company Failure The UK Industrials is composed of 539 firms and observed from 1988-1993. From table 1, we can see that from the original 539 companies, 56 companies from the group exit the firm because of its financial stabilities. This resulted to shake to the whole company making it like a domino effect to fail the company. The case study made by John Hunter and Natalia Isachenkova for the UK industries explained that the result of the UK Industrial failure is its lack of knowledge in determining the financial stability of the industry which is very important for investment decisions at the micro level. Individuality also played a big part in their failure because the study showed a big evidence of division from different panels as such, decision making regarding the industries financial problem, profits, liquidity, turnovers and changes were greatly affected. Aside from the causes of failure mentioned, the industry is also said to have focused on their current cash flow rather than also thinking about the future economic value of the firm according in their future cash flows.